2 face prostitution charges after car crash in Gardner

Thursday

Jul 11, 2013 at 6:00 AM

By George Barnes, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

GARDNER — A Fitchburg woman and a Westminster man face prostitution charges after a car crash last week on Kelton Street.

Police responding to the accident near 126 Kelton St. found Karin Norton, 22, of 76 Mechanic St., Fitchburg, and David F. Gagné III, 23, of 179 Worcester Road, Westminster, outside a vehicle with both airbags deployed and the left front tire off its rim.

Police said they saw Mr. Gagné, who was on the passenger side of the vehicle, walk up to the door and reach inside a bag that was in the vehicle. When police checked the bag, they found drugs, including crack cocaine, suboxone and the prescription drug sertraline hydrochloride, police said.

Ms. Norton initially told police she was not driving, but Mr. Gagné said she was driving but did not have a license, police said. When asked why they were on rural Kelton Street, Ms. Norton said it was to buy cigarettes, but Mr. Gagné said she had agreed to perform sexual acts in exchange for some of his drugs, police said. He said she did not have money to pay him, but agreed to sex for drugs.

Mr. Gagné was arrested and charged with possession of crack cocaine and suboxone, possession of setraline hydrochloride, allowing improper driving and paying for sexual conduct.

Ms. Norton was charged with witness intimidation, providing sexual conduct for a fee, and unlicensed driving. Both were arraigned Monday in Gardner District Court. They were released on personal recognizance and are due back in court for a pretrial hearing Aug. 13.